Haaland tells Man City to step up after Leipzig winner
Erling HaalandErling Haaland rescued Manchester City in Leipzig on Wednesday, then used his post-match interview to say the team must become harsher on opponents.
The Norwegian striker scored 12 minutes from time to give City a 3-2 win at the Red Bull Arena in the Champions League league phase, after the visitors had been pulled back on two separate occasions.
Haaland wants a second goal sooner
Speaking to TNT Sports, Haaland said City’s moment to push on came when they led 1-0, and that they should have pushed harder then.
The striker told the broadcaster:
I think we need to step up a little bit… I think when we were 1-0, I think we needed to push forward a bit more to go at it, go for the second and then hopefully go for the third.
He presented it as a job for the whole club, not a criticism of any one player. He added:
That’s what we have to do as a club. We have to work on that.
Asked which areas needed work, he listed keeping the ball, deciding when to hold it and when to attack, and cooperating in both attack and defence.
He also found a positive angle, noting that another match arrives in three days, which he called lovely.
A quiet night, then the decisive slide
Until the late goal, this was not a Haaland evening. His first sight of goal came when a deflected pass from Rayan Cherki fell his way, and Maarten Vandevoordt saved his snap-shot.
Then came the moment that mattered. He raced in at the back post and slid in a low delivery from Elliot Anderson, which was only his 13th touch of the game.
Haaland did not seem bothered by the lack of involvement, telling TNT Sports:
It’s not the most but what is the most important is I help the team to win, and I managed to do that, so I’m super happy.
Records keep falling against Leipzig
The goal was his 14th of the season and his 13th in nine career meetings with Leipzig, more than he has scored against any other opponent. In the Champions League it made it 62 goals in 61 games.
He put the tally down to how many times he has faced them. The former Borussia Dortmund striker also hit five when City thrashed Leipzig 7-0 in 2023.
Twice level, and a rough night for Donnarumma
City’s lead came from good fortune in the 37th minute. Nico O’Reilly’s cutback looked poor, but Castello Lukeba, unaware that nobody was near him, bundled it into his own net.
Ridle Baku levelled soon after the break, and Enzo Fernández headed City back in front from Iliman Ndiaye’s cross. Antonio Nusa then equalised again with a low finish from a Christopher Nkunku pass.
Goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma had a night to forget. He fumbled a Nusa shot over the bar early on, came off his line for Baku’s goal, and watched David Raum’s free-kick loop over him onto the crossbar.
In my view, those details make Haaland’s message hard to dismiss. A side that twice gives up a lead against Leipzig, managed by Martin Demichelis, has good reason to ask whether it is killing games off.
Maresca’s verdict and what’s next
City manager Enzo Maresca was pleased with the reaction to Saturday’s defeat at Brighton, City’s second loss in a row in the Premier League.
Maresca said:
I think part of the game we controlled quite well, creating many chances. Then for some moments, we struggled a little bit but that’s normal, it’s a Champions League game.
The victory moves City up to seventh in the Champions League table, inside the places that earn automatic qualification for the knockout rounds.
Haaland has said another game follows in three days, and he will hope City show the sharper edge he asked for.
